NOTES 1.

4: THE SCIENTIFIC
METHOD
Pages 13-19
Thinking Like a Scientist
 Seeks to answer questions about the natural
world
 Use the Scientific Method to test hypothesis
 Provides accurate, reliable answers to
questions/problems
Scientific Method
Scientific Method: a set of steps or
procedures that you following when
conducting an experiment

1. Making observations (think of a question)

2. Formulate a hypothesis
3. Create a prediction
4. Design and conduct the experiment
5. Analyze data using graphics
6. Drawing conclusions
7. Communicating results
8. Retest
1. OBSERVATIONS
 The process of gathering information
about events or processes in a careful,
orderly way
 Using our senses to make observations
of the natural world
HYPOTHESIS
 A hypothesis is a proposed
scientific explanation for a set
of observations

 Scientists generate hypotheses

using prior knowledge, or what
they already know

 This statement is testable and

can be confirmed with
experimentation or further
observation
PREDICTION
 A forecast as to what should happen during an
experiment if your hypothesis is supported

 Written in an “If _________, then

__________” statement

 Example
 Hypothesis: Studying improves test scores.
 Prediction: If I study, then I will improve my test
scores.
 Practice
 Observation: Several students get sick after eating a
Big Mac at McDonald’s.
 Formulate a hypothesis
 Formulate a prediction based on the
hypothesis
EXPERIMENT
 Designing an activity/experiment to test a
hypothesis under controlled conditions

 A good experiment can be replicated by other

scientists and the same results can be obtained
EXPERIMENT …contd.
Controls and Variables

 Controlled Experiment: Has a control

group and an experimental group differing by
only one factor (variable)
 Control Group: Not being tested. Used for
comparison only.

 Experimental Group: Group being tested.

Differs by the control group by only one factor.

 Constants: factors kept the same for the

control and experimental group. Ensures results
seen are due only to the factor being tested.
EXPERIMENT …contd.
Controls and Variables
 Ex. When testing the effects of fertilizer on
fruit production, everything would stay the
same between two groups of plants (water,
sunlight exposure, amount of fertilizer etc).
They only difference is the type of fertilizer.
EXPERIMENT …contd.
Controls and Variables

 Independent Variable
(cause): Factor scientists
change or manipulate

 Dependent Variable
(effect): Factor that is being
measured or observed,
changes as independent
variable changes
 Practice
 Suppose you want to figure out the fastest route to walk
home from school.

 You will try several different routes and time how long it
takes you to get home by each one.

 Dependent variable: _________________________

 Independent variable: ________________________
 Constants: _______________________________
DATA ANALYSIS
 Two main categories of data: Quantitative and
Qualitative.

 Quantitative data are expressed as

numbers, obtained by counting or measuring.

 Qualitative data are descriptive and involve

characteristics that can’t usually be counted.
Ex. “the scar appears old” and “the animal
seems healthy and alert.”
Quantitative or Qualitative?
Quantitative or Qualitative?
 DATA ANALYSIS
 Organize data in tables and charts

 Create graphs

Dependent
Variable
Control

Independent
Variable
CONCLUSION
 Explain data and
results

 Support or reject
your hypothesis

 Summarize
experiment and form
new questions
COMMUNICATE
 Share your results with other scientists

 A scientific article must tell the reader what the question to

be answered is, why the question is important, background
information, a description of the experiment, the data that
were collected, and the scientist’s evaluation of what the data
mean.
RETEST
 Test DOES NOT support
hypothesis?
 Revise hypothesis or create a
new one

 Test DOES supports

hypothesis?
 Create new predictions and
test them

 After further support from

various experiments then the
hypothesis may become a
theory
Theory
 THEORY: formed from repeated
observation, testing of related
hypotheses, and is supported with
much evidence

 Describes the why and how something

happens

 Examples: cell theory and the theory

of evolution
 The saying “it’s just a theory” makes it sound
untested, but these theories have been well
tested
Law

A statement of fact that concisely

explains an action or group of actions,
tells us what something will do
e.g. Law of Gravity
 Accepted to be true
 Universal
 May be expressed as a math equation
e.g. E=mc2
Homework
Vocabulary Word Definition Picture/Symbol/
Example
Experimental Group

Control Group

Constant

Quantitative Data

Qualitative Data